Dual Operating System Installation on Your Device

Learn the easiest way to install a double OS with our straightforward instructions. Ideal for all users.

Posted by @Irene July 24, 2024 Updated By @Irene June 12, 2024

Can you run double OS on one computer?

1. Run Windows system on Mac

The MacBook Pro is the most powerful laptop Apple makes. They give Mac users beautiful Retina screens, fast processors, and cutting-edge sound to get the most out of their computers. However, Mac OS X is not allowed, and many people still want to run Windows on their Mac Pro for the reasons below:

Installing Windows 10, 8, or 7 on an Apple Mac will not let you run Windows software or games. Many PC games and Windows software do not work with Mac OS. You get the best software games and apps. Testing the Windows Project Mac computers are good for developers who like to code. Since Windows has a large share of the laptop market, you may want to think about how your apps and programs work on Windows 10, 8, and 7. It is stable and very efficient, but testing for bugs and bugs takes a long time.

We don't think you should put Windows on a virtual machine, even if you want to use it. Running both operating systems at the same time will slow them down a lot. You can also run Windows 10, 8, or 7 on a Mac Pro in two different ways that don't slow it down.

2. Run Windows 10 and Windows 11 on the same computer

Since a while ago, Windows 11, the newest operating system, has been available. It has a new user interface and a lot of interesting features. A lot of people are looking forward to installing and using this new system, but they might not be ready to completely replace their current Windows versions, especially Windows 10 users. So, it might be a good idea to dual boot Windows 11 and Windows 10.

But dual boot demands your computer meet the minimum system requirements for Windows 11. Many users are not sure whether they can run the system and they ask “Can I dual boot Windows 10 and 11 on my computer?”. In such case, it is recommended to check your PC health first. Once you find the answer is “Yes”, you can continue to follow this guide to dual booting

Partition SSD for Booting double OS

More and more people are finding SSDs to be useful, and the new technology is making a big difference in their working lives. Most SSDs on the market have a lot of space and aren't too expensive. A lot of people know SSD names like Samsung, Intel, Toshiba, Kingston, SanDisk, and PNY. For a while, replacing HDD with SSD in desktop and desktops became popular and common. This group of PC users mostly wants to get rid of their old, slow hard drives and replace them with new, fast solid state drives. Some of them do use SSD for the OS and HDD for storage to get the most out of each one.

So, is it good to partition SSD? Unlike HDDs, SSDs don't have any moving parts, but you can still divide them up to use for different jobs. There are a lot of people who want to split their hard drives for dual boot. They liked the SSD and want to get even more out of this disk. As we already said, SSDs now have a lot of space, which lets you run two operating systems at the same time on an SSD. If you moved from Windows 7 to Windows 11, dual boot is a good way to get back to the OS you know. Dual boot is a good way for people who need different operating systems to keep both of them in use. Some users even split up their SSDs to separate the OS and games. Some other reason might make us want to split a hard drive, but the most important thing is that we know how to do it.

Before You Do

It would be smart to learn more about dual boot needs before going any further. That is, a normal Windows OS like Windows 7, Windows XP, or Windows 10 needs more than 60 GB of room, and 80 GB is ideal. Between 20 GB and 40 GB of disk space is enough for Linux like Mint. Ubuntu needs even less. It takes about 10 GB to run Mac OS. Because of this, an SSD with 120 GB of room can do what you need for dual boot.

In terms of file system, NTFS and FAT32 are workable in Windows OS. For Windows 7 and the later, NTFS file system is required for OS. Linux needs EXT2, EXT3, or EXT4 to run. HFS+ is in Mac OS. Absolutely, among these file systems ExtFAT is compatible for both Windows and Mac. FAT32 is available for file sharing and day-to-day use. One can easily reformat to FAT32 when necessary. In most cases, you need leave 10% to 20% free space of that disk for swap each system.

How to Partition SSD for Dual Boot?

If want to dual boot Windows and other OS like Linux or Mac, you might as well turn to third party partitioning software like AOMEI Partition Assistant. This software allows you to create a partition based on NTFS, FAT32, FAT, EXT2 or EXT3 for different systems. Windows 11, 10, 8, 7 are supported. Besides, command line partitioning is available as well. Download the demo version and have a try.

AOMEI Partition Assistant

The Best Windows Disk Partition Manager and PC Optimizer

How to Partition Disk for Dual Boot via AOMEI Partition Assistant?

1. Connect the disk to your computer and make sure it can be detected. Install and start AOMEI Partition Assistant.

2. Right-click the unallocated space and select “Create Partition”.

3. In the pop-up window, specify the new partition including partition size, drive letter and file system. Then click “OK”.

4. Click “Apply” to make it real.

Tips: 

You can create multiple partitions at a time with “Quick Partition” feature in AOMEI Partition Assistant.

Besides, you can create a new partition from the existing partition directly with the AOMEI Partition Assistant software.

If you create a partition with EXT2/EXT3/FAT file system, it might be recognized in Windows environment. Just create it and install the related OS on that partition.

This software is also the strategy for how to partition HDD for dual boot.

It is quite easy to partition SSD for dual boot, isn’t it? Install each OS and then you can experience different operating systems in one computer.

Conclusion

Running double operating systems on a single computer is a practical solution for users who need the benefits of different OS environments. For Mac users, Boot Camp allows Windows to run efficiently on a MacBook Pro, enabling access to a wider range of software and games. Dual-booting Windows 10 and Windows 11 on the same computer is possible, provided the system meets the necessary requirements. SSDs make dual-booting easier due to their large storage capacities and high speeds. Tools like AOMEI Partition Assistant simplify the process of partitioning your SSD or HDD, making it easy to set up and manage multiple operating systems on a single machine.

FAQs

1. Can I run Windows on a MacBook Pro?

  • Yes, you can run Windows on a MacBook Pro using Boot Camp, which allows you to dual boot both macOS and Windows without significantly slowing down your system.

2. Is it possible to dual boot Windows 10 and Windows 11 on the same computer?

  • Yes, you can dual boot Windows 10 and Windows 11 on the same computer, provided your system meets the minimum requirements for Windows 11.

3. How much space do I need on my SSD to dual boot two operating systems?

  • A typical Windows OS needs more than 60 GB of space (80 GB is ideal), while Linux requires between 20 GB and 40 GB. macOS needs about 10 GB. Thus, an SSD with at least 120 GB is recommended for dual booting.

4. What file systems are compatible for dual booting different operating systems?

  • Windows uses NTFS or FAT32, Linux uses EXT2, EXT3, or EXT4, and macOS uses HFS+. ExFAT is compatible with both Windows and Mac for shared partitions.

5. How do I partition my SSD for dual booting?

  • You can use third-party software like AOMEI Partition Assistant to create partitions. This software supports various file systems and provides tools to easily partition your SSD for different operating systems.